Santa Cruz City Council to consider second beach roundabout

SANTA CRUZ &GT;&GT; Work could start within four months on a second beach-area traffic roundabout if the Santa Cruz City Council approves plans Tuesday night for the $1.6 million project and allows public works officials to solicit bids.

The Public Works Department proposes constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Beach Street, which also acts as the entrance to the Municipal Wharf. The project would trail the 2010 completion of a $1 million roundabout located a fifth of a mile north in front of Depot Park at the intersection of Pacific Avenue, Center Street and West Cliff Drive.

The council chose the roundabouts in 2006 as preferred measures for relieving traffic congestion in the tourist-driven beach area. But the project at the wharf's entrance was delayed while the city grappled with changes in ownership and operation of railroad tracks bisecting the area.

If the council OKs the design, Assistant Public Works Director Chris Schneiter said bidding could open July 24 and work could begin in October and be completed by April. The project will be funded by traffic impact fees paid by developers and the voter-approved Measure H money for paving roads.

Schneiter hopes the roundabout will provide some relief for the four-way stop that contributes to slow traffic on main arteries and feeder streets leading from Beach Hill and downtown. He said the Depot Park circle has proven largely successful.

"It seems to be doing what it was designed to do: reducing the number of accidents, slowing traffic down, providing better traffic circulation and be more aesthetically pleasing," he said.

Lorina Fleming, a member of a family who owns property on West Cliff Drive, hopes the city augments the wharf entrance to allow vehicles to get through the parking ticket booths quickly. Otherwise, she said, the roundabout will actually cause a greater jam, like she believes the Depot Park roundabout does on busy weekends.

"It's just going to move the jam from one circle to the next," she said.

Schneiter acknowledged a roundabout can do little on summer Saturdays and Sundays when the influx of vehicles can't be handled with the existing traffic lanes. Also, he said, many drivers contribute to the slowdown because they aren't accustomed to how roundabouts work — the primary rule being to yield upon entering — and he noted drivers need to watch for pedestrians and bicyclists

Schneiter said the intersection will remain open during the work, which will include sidewalk improvements, access ramps, improved street lights, paving and railroad gates and flashers.

During the council's afternoon session Tuesday, city leaders are slated to adopt the $217 million city budget for 2014-2015, make final changes to campaign finance rules pertaining to council elections, select a city attorney to replace the retiring John Barisone, and consider a two-year agreement and pay increase for his Santa Cruz firm.